1 Corinthians 15:56 (KJV)

What does 1 Corinthians 15:56 mean?

1 Corinthians 15:56 says that sin is what gives death its power to harm, and that the law gives sin its strength. The verse highlights a chain: death is painful because of sin, and sin is powerful because of the law.

Paul is writing to the church in Corinth, explaining the deep problem of death and sin in human life. He points out that death’s "sting" comes from sin, and that the law, by defining right and wrong, actually gives sin more force. This sets up his argument about why Jesus’s resurrection is so important for believers.

The Greek behind 1 Corinthians 15:56

• "sting" (κέντρον, kentron): This word means a sharp point, like a bee’s stinger or a weapon’s tip. Paul uses it to picture death as something that wounds or harms because of sin.
• "strength" (δύναμις, dynamis): This word means power or force. Paul is saying that the law gives sin its real power, making it more serious by making people aware of what is wrong.
• "law" (νόμος, nomos): In Paul’s context, this refers to God’s commandments given in the Old Testament. The law defines sin, so it actually makes people more aware of their failures.

Why 1 Corinthians 15:56 matters

• This verse clears up why death is so troubling in Paul’s thinking: it is not just the end of life, but is made bitter by the reality of sin.
• Paul’s statement shows that the law, while good, cannot solve the problem of sin; instead, it reveals and even intensifies it.
• Understanding this verse helps make sense of Paul’s larger message in 1 Corinthians 15, where he explains why Jesus’s victory over sin and death is so central to Christian hope.